Williamsburg area golf courses

Greater Williamsburg offers a wide variety of golfing options, including courses designed by some of the top golf architects in the world. The roster of designers reads like a whos who in the business world: Robert Trent and Rees Jones, Pete Dye, Ed Ault, Tom Fazio, Dan Maples, Tom Clark and Nicklaus Design.

The Golden Horseshoe. Colonial Williamsburg offers two 18-hole championship layouts and one 9-hole course, The Spotswood. The Gold Course was originally designed by Robert Trent Jones, and he once called it his finest layout. Rees Jones designed the Green Course, which features abundant woodlands and natural terrain with drastic elevation changes. 220-7696, colonialwilliamsburgresort.com.

Fords Colony. This residential neighborhood boasts 54 championship holes. The complex includes the Marsh Hawk, Blackheath and Blue Heron courses, each offering fair but challenging play for golfers of all skill levels. The courses have been listed among Virginias best by several golfing publications, and the pro shop has been voted the best in the Mid-Atlantic region. 258-4130, fordscolony.com.

Kingsmill. The River Course is by Pete DyeHoles. Holes 16-18 feature play along the picturesque James River. The course layout has been recognized as a must-play by several major golf publications. Arnold Palmer designed the adjacent Plantation Course, which puts a premium on accurate iron play and precision putting. Kingsmills Woods Course was designed by Tom Clark and Curtis Strange. That course is a classic parkland-style design with an interesting mix of long and short holes. 253-3906, kingsmill.com.

Williamsburg National. The Jamestown course by Nicklaus Design Associates was rated by Golf Digest as one of the top 10 courses in Virginia in 1996. The Yorktown course, designed by Tom Clark, is a 7,000-yard championship course of a traditional design with no gimmicks. 800 826-5732, wngc.com

The Colonial. This award-winning creation of Lester George and Robert Wrenn winds through native forests and wetlands, and is totally devoid of residential or commercial development. 566-1600, golfcolonial.com

Stonehouse. Designed by Mike Strantz, this course reminds players of mountain courses in western Virginia or North Carolina, even though its just a pitching wedge from the Atlantic Ocean. Strantz, a former associate of Tom Fazio, used the lands natural elevation changes. Playing to a par-71, the course has four sets of tees, giving players of any ability a challenge. 566-1138, traditionalclubs.com.

Royal New Kent. The course features five sets of tees, including the foreboding Invicta tees. To play them, golfers must leave their drivers license or credit card as a deposit and have handicaps of 5 or better. 804 966-7023, traditionalclubs.com.

The Golf Club at Brickshire. A Curtis Strange signature course located just off I-64, exit 214 between Williamsburg and Richmond. Call 804 966-7888 or toll-free 866-867-7888, brickshiregolfclub.com.

Kiskiack Golf Club. Set along the ridge of a natural bluff, Kiskiack offers a day of golf for players of all levels. The club offers a complete practice facility with an expansive grass driving range, short game area and putting green. 566-2200, traditionalclubs.com.

Colonial Heritage. 18-hole championship golf course designed by world-renowned Arthur Hills. There is also a full practice facility, including putting green and driving range. 645-2000, colonialheritageclub.com.